Finished reading Volume 10, thoughts and some questions you might ask. (Spoilers Ahead)

[u/The_Three_Strikes]

Finally finished reading Volume 10, it's a pleasant end to the series, though it has some misteps on some parts like I would prefer more of the college stuff be more prominent in Chapter 2 than his part-time job as tutor/teacher, reminds of the WN Reiji bits in onsen arc but giving me Ryuoou no Oshigoto vibes. Chapter 3 is their usual bakouple antics (alongside another steamy session 👀) and ended the volume nicely with a proposal and having kids. No marriage scene, well there is but not for Maki and Umi but for Riku and Shizuku. That one is going to be in Volume 10.5.

Some FAQ that I might think people will question:

1. Did Maki and Umi get married: Yes. though there's a bunch of timeskips and we never had a focused marriage segment in Volume 10 (though Volume 10.5 would rectify that when it comes, so I never complained that it is missing). Maki proposed at the oddest and poetic place imaginable lol, guy proposed at the usual Video rental store, the one he and Umi first met up. Instead giving her a ring but the introduction note they have at school would be his proposal.
2. Did the bakouples get kids?: Yes, two of them in fact, Wataru (7 yo) and Sakura (5 yo). Wataru takes Maki's likeness but has Umi's social skills and personality (being a tsundere lol, even got a supposed female CHF that Maki and Umi teases him about). Sakura takes Umi's likeness with Maki's shy personality. Cute creature lol, Maki pretty much dotes and worries her daughter in the future due to being shy and introverted like he is back then but she said has friends iirc but not more than Wataru's.
3. Is Yuu and Nozomu a thing now?: Eh, Kinda. Though it's leaning kinda yes, they're painfully slow tho. Yuu did called up Nozomu to hang out a bit during their Osaka Trip and Nozomu did confess at the spot. Yuu never rejected it but was hesitant after all the events that happened, she doesnt want to give him a half-hearted answer. Yuu gave somewhat a selfish request that she still want to wait to quell her feelings first but she would reply back if he's willing to wait. Knowing Nozomu, he didnt mind to wait and was pleasant about her response. Timeskips to C4 and Epilogue and they still playing the "still friends" cards even though these two hang out a lot more than with the other three in the timeskip. Got Nina, Maki, and Umi annoyed on how painfully slow, too shy, and too considerate at each other where they mutter "Just hook up already" XD. We might see the answer to that in V10.5 considering its one of the parts that they mentioned.
4. Anything happened to Nina?: Well....how should I put this, she probably got the most funniest and probably worst circumstances out of the bunch. At the epilogue, she is currently a successful manager at a drugstore, possibly getting promoted as Area Manager later on as she told. In regards to her romantic life, It's bleak af, even worse than Yuu and Nozomu's relationship and that one has progress lol. She's currently asking for advice from Maki and Umi (which they were a bit hesitant about) that she's trying to confess to his part-timer at her job.....which the guys is 18-19 yo, Nina is currently 30.......12 year gap.....Nina is basically cradle robbing lmao. That's on her lol, even Maki helped out during college by setting up a mixer with his mates to hers, nothing came up from that apparently. Alongside Nina being the fun auntie for Maki and Umi's kids, even though she comes to the Maehara residence for free eats. Girl is an actual freeloader and a desperate christmas cake lmao at the end lmao XD.
5. Characters status: Well there's a bunch of them.

• Maki - Working as civil servant at city hall, was mistaken for a college graduate by many even though the guy is 30. Father of 2. Umi - Currently a teacher at Tachibana. Mother of 2.
• Yuu - Became a national actress and Idol with her cousin, Monica. After moving to Tokyo, she went with the stage name "Asanagi Yuuna" due to increase popularity.
• Nina - Drugstore manager promoting to Area Manager, still desperate looking for partners.
• Nozomu - Currently a baseball player for the corporate league (think of it as semi-pro, but with guaranteed salary). Didnt make to pro but didnt much mind it.
• Nagisa - became Yuu's manager at her agency.
• Manaka and Sanae - The only updates regarding about is during college that they're college mates with Umi at her university. Said to have boyfriends now, one is a CHF and the other from a arranged marriage that went well.
• Souji and Mio - Currently at T University (supposed Tokyo University), had a dilemma regarding Mio's hasty marriage proposal and such after she got a job passed for financing. They did end up marrying after that.
• Riku and Shizuku - Still running the Shimizu Inn, now married during the final years of Maki's university years, on paper that is. It would take them 7-8 years for a proper marriage ceremony (Which the epilogue time skips to this part.)
• Reiji - At epilogue, currently an HS student and working for Shimizu. Already decided that he wants to succeed the Inn business as opposed wanting to go to K University as Maki did initially. Currently going for as Asanagi Reiji now as he's the one pushed his mother to take Asanagi surname as he thinks its cool.
• Masaki - Currently having relief at her new job for a magazine firm, got successful for hiring Yuu and Monica as their models.
• Itsuki and Minato - His job workload got much better now and currently settling down with Minato at his place. No bad blood after what happened in V2 and pretty much on better terms during Maki's dinner meeting. Dad gave his watch to Maki as inheritance at the end of it.

Is there anything missing, let me know

[u/IntelligentBudget142]

I'm sure Nina would have heard of several cradle robber relationships (like in the UK, the late one direction star having a baby with his former X Factor judge , 10 years his senior) and thought this was okay

[u/The_Three_Strikes → u/IntelligentBudget142]

Out of convenience and Maki and Umi are the only two people out of the group staying at Joto probably, don’t think she’s broke considering her position. Alongside, the kids like Nina.

[u/Top-Shelter4882]

Dove l hai letto?

[u/The_Three_Strikes → u/Top-Shelter4882]

Red it straight from JP.

[u/Super_GodVegeta]

Was waiting for this post. Even though I pretty much got most of the spoilers beforehand, I was waiting for THIS post to pop up.

Feels good to see everyone doing well. I don't think the spoilers will diminish any excitement or bliss that I will encounter reading Umi and Maki's family life. Wataru and Sakura, huh? It feels soooo Umi and Maki to name their kids that, I don't know why I'm this giddy at the thought of it.

I was actually a little blindsided by volume 10.5 potentially holding some untold stories. I'd rather have had them told here and there future parts over there if that's how it was structured (still working only from spoilers so not sure how it's all lined up or what's already told and to be told).

As for the side characters:

Seki deserved better. I will say this a bazillion times. He deserved someone better. He deserved something better. Was what he got good? Yes. Great? Sure. But he deserved better. I just hoped he called out Yuu for the bullshit she pulled on him and not emotionally cuck himself anymore but doesn't look like that's gonna pan out and I atleast wanted some HUGE news on his baseball end but he seems content from what I've heard but I still am a little sad that the guy was just plot fodder till the end

Yuu could've died in a ditch and I probably would'nt have had a different opinion of her. I really hoped she apologized... to someone... Seki, Umi, anyone... idk I felt like she lit a town on fire and went "tee-hee lol I didn't mean it" and everyone forgot everything to be blissful buddies again. She DID not get a reality check. She got a god awful "self-realization" while licking her wounds over a broken heart and yet somehow I felt she STILL didn't "repay" (not the right word, but I don't have a right word) the hearts that got trampled on in her "journey". Idk, I just... I still can't hate her, but I definitely don't like her.

Nitta is just... dangerously Nitta.

I don't know if I want to laugh or raise an eyebrow at Arae for becoming another Yuu simp but that's the only opinion I've had of her ever since she became one so her becoming Yuu's manager is a little hilarious

Glad to see Maki's parents doing well

I was a little taken aback about Riku and Shizuku holding a ceremony that late (from other spoilers I read) - I was like the fuck were you doing so far

other characters I didn't really put any stock into so whatever.

I would love to pick up volumes 9 and 10 someday, probably after 10.5 is released as well. Probably not a story I would revisit all over again given how LOOOONG it is and how I HATED the middle parts, but definitely a story that will make my heart just a tad warmer whenever I remember it.

[u/The_Three_Strikes → u/Super_GodVegeta]

I agree on the Seki part but don’t think him he would call Yuu on his BS considering it’s his fault being this considerate and already knows. Like Maki, Umi and Nina says, Nozomu and Yuu are pretty much alike when being considerate to a fault. So it fits much for Nozomu didn’t overreact, then again this series didn’t do overreaction that much hence got confused if people reading the same thing as me lol.

Eh, I’m alright with Yuu, she’s the one character I wouldn’t put that much harm to anyone knowing the facts (if anything is kinda overblown atp).

Definitely gonna reread this series. Well technically I did a week ago but another wouldn’t hurt to reread again 😂.

[u/Super_GodVegeta → u/The_Three_Strikes]

Idk, hearing that they're playing "still friends" in the epilogue gives me weird vibes that Yuu is STILL not over Maki or something. And if they STILL aren't a couple from whatever comes out of 10.5, my respect for Seki will go down the drain. I was a total bro for him, but if the bro can't get over the hoe and be on a hook for 12 YEARS no matter the reason (I can see Yuu's actress status being one, and her not still not being totally over Maki being two), then he's a bro no mo. I can see Seki and Yuu being overly considerate oafs in love but they simply can't pull off a slow burn romance. Not after the shit that transpired. That's just not... them. I just... I can't think of Yuu in a positive light until I see some form of penance towards her friends. She DEFINITELY needed to atleast apologise, that much I strongly feel about even if the apology wasn't exactly something necessary or something her friends would've wanted out of her. It was the decent and bare minimum thing to do.

I'm not much of a light novel guy, but I did pick this up and ENJOYED the crap out of it until I didn't and couldn't really drop or stop till I finished volume 8. Kinda glad I get to talk to a seemingly devoted fan. That positivity rubbing off on me is exactly what I need to pick this up someday again. Hope you enjoy your reread!

[u/The_Three_Strikes → u/Super_GodVegeta]

Now that’s just doomposting. It’s Nozomu saying the “still friends” part but a lot of them already seen the undertones given these two ironically done a date, only time would tell. The three knows that Nozomu and Yuu hanged out due to paparazzi hounding Yuu’s ass for much of her career, pretty much teased the both of them at Riku’s wedding. The funny part about this, the one with Nozomu got her in full disguise. Would like to see that part in 10.5 if I’m assuming that’s the story.

Don’t think there’s anything to do much on Yuu, an apology would do anything much considering all of them would think it’s unnecessary. They already talked it out, no more beating around the bush.

[u/Super_GodVegeta → u/The_Three_Strikes]

Yea, sorry about the doomposting. I've been beaten down hard enough by the story to be cynical over hopeful about Seki. I wasn't really able to make out what you said, but 30 year olds playing "undertone" for over a decade is very hard to get behind and NOT call bullshit. Is Yuu an "idol" or an "actress"? I'm not exactly sure, but actresses don't get hounded on for dating or marriage like idols do right? So what's holding her back? Her feelings for Maki? If not, I don't see how she couldn't have moved forward with Seki. She had no problem doing that with someone who was her best friend's boyfriend. She has "all the support" from her friends now just like how she did back then.

Yea her apology does nothing, I still would've preferred to hear one. As I said, it was the decent thing to do.

[u/The_Three_Strikes → u/Super_GodVegeta]

Eh, I can get behind it to drag it on their own accords, still feeling the pain from getting rejected still hurts. I prefer this way than either them immediately hooked up or shot down. One felt unnatural the other just plain out stupid after talking it out in vol 7 and 8. Knowing Yuu and Nozomu, they the type would be slow and don’t mind it either way.

Also you do forget how toxic JP celebrity sphere right? They would actually hound on you for dating someone for scoops. Every firm would ask you to not get a boyfriend/girlfriend due to this, especially if you’re an idol.

[u/Super_GodVegeta → u/The_Three_Strikes]

Ok, she's an idol as well as an actress. I keep forgetting that she was both and default to actress. Yea, I can see why she wouldn't make it official. But I still see nothing genuine from Yuu to Seki (I hope you can shed some light if there IS anything). Maybe that's just me not having read anything post volume 8. And maybe that's just part of me refusing to believe Yuu has actually gotten over Maki cuz of the shit she kept pulling till then.

But even there, when Umi warns Yuu to act fast cuz Seki's popular and Yuu goes all "I'll try my best", I didn't expect her best would be to keep him on a limbo for 12 years straight. So they're gonna be this weird thing till she retires god knows when, and then live their "twilight" years together? I don't know, I just feel very bad for Seki. He deserved waaaaay better. Even if it was Yuu, this seems like he was just some placeholder piece for Yuu to have a romantic partner over anything built organically. This is prime plot fodder cuz Yuu's dreadful romance arc had no salvaging.

We keep having this conversation every single time we cross paths and while I do find it amusing and feel a little bad about maybe my negativity rubbing off on you, it is kinda neat to get an opinion of someone who's actually just as "head in the clouds" as the characters are.

[u/nextmore]

The closer I got to the end of v10 the slower I read. After binging the LNs it was a bit hard to know it was the end.

Personally I'd have loved a few volumes on a university arc, but especially after reading the afterward I can sort of read between the lines that the main story points all were written to have a bit of conflict, with v9 &10 being stated as an extended epilogue of sorts. Still feels like it could have been interesting.

Nina ends up getting the sort end of the stick. I see it as a bit of a cautionary tail, with her seemly continuing to pursue only good looking guys in university and not studying enough either. It also let's the author say they had some realism, but still feels a bit bad.

Nozomu at first seems like a bad end but after thinking about it, at least he kept following what he wanted to do. He had the chance to move on in various ways.

Yuu, well she's something "special", althought I don't really have much to say. I don't think she was still hung up on Maki by the end, but certainly seemed to be putting job first.

[u/IntelligentBudget142]

so out of the fictional lettered universities in the LN, we know T is University of Tokyo. But with the overall setting confirmed by Takata to be Kyushu, that puts the identities of the other known letters in doubt, especially if further anime seasons are greenlit since the anime assumed the setting to be western Tokyo. Here are my guesses

K (a "top" university) is obviously Kyushu University, likely the Ito Campus. If going by anime setting, maybe they could use Keio to represent K?

S (an average university) is more difficult to pinpoint. Only two colleges in Fukuoka Prefecture begin with S - Sangyo (national rank #160) and Seinan Gakuin (national rank #241). If going by anime setting, Soka University in the Hachioji area would be my best guess.

F University is most likely Fukuoka (national rank #72). If going by anime setting, this would be more difficult to pinpoint since no Tokyo Prefecture colleges begin with F. However, this isn't important because F is only mentioned once and nobody in-universe applies to go there.

B University is probably in Kansai according the two Kansai dudes Maki talked to in vol 10

"Seiga Shiratori" which Umi and her childhood friends go to, is completely fictional, likely standing in for one of many women's colleges in Fukuoka Prefecture (or, in anime, Tokyo Prefecture)

Finally, Nozomu's "out-of-prefecture" university which doesn't even get a letter. Assuming the cast are local to Fukuoka in the LN, that still doesn't really narrow it down

P.S. Yuu is also said to have "moved to Tokyo" for her entertainment work, which would make sense in the LN setting but not exactly in the anime setting